Some people celebrated a little too hard the night Obama won. An impromptu gathering on State Street, which reportedly drew 1,000 people, also sent a few inebriated folks to Dane County's detox center.
"We [reached capacity] that night with a lot of students who were celebrating," says Dave Mack, the center's program supervisor. "It really surprised us."
The detox center, operated by Tellurian UCAN, has 29 beds. On most nights, the center hosts about 20 people, says Mack, so "an event puts you over the top."
So far this year, the center has hit capacity five times, mostly during Badger home games. But it did not fill up during Freakfest, the annual Halloween celebration on State Street, or after a recent Badger game that began at 11 a.m., which, Mack notes, "can have an effect."
UW students who end up at detox could face a meeting with UW officials and may have to take a class on alcohol abuse. Repeat offenders risk suspension.
The center has only recently begun keeping track of the number of nights it reaches capacity. "It's occurring more frequently," says Mack. "We're trying to get a handle on why."
